The Rushen Pudding Club has raised £1,200 to go towards the opening of the new heritage centre in Bridson Street, Port Erin.

The converted bus shelter is expected to open its doors as the Rushen Heritage Centre sometime between late June and early July - with the exact date to be confirmed soon.

The development of the centre, which was planned to open this Easter, was delayed by this year’s Covid-19 lockdowns.

It will be the first time that Rushen Heritage Trust (RHT) will have a permanent physical base to hold exhibitions, sell its publications and promote its ongoing events and projects.

It will offer information about heritage in the Rushen area while also serving as a general tourist information centre.

The pudding club lunches were held earlier this year at St Catherine’s Church Hall in Port Erin and supported by Shoprite, which donated vouchers towards the ingredients.

One of the organisers Pamela Crowe said: ’It was a fantastic team effort from the many volunteers who gave up their time to cook, wait on, and clean up.

’A huge thank you to everyone who played their part, and of course to all those who came along to enjoy the soup and puddings.’

RHT’s next major fundraising event is its Secret Gardens and Hidden Treasures weekend in Port St Mary, from July 3 to 5.

People will be able to take a look in people’s private gardens to pick up some gardening ideas, and Port St Mary town hall will also be hosting an exhibition.

If you would like to know more about the work of Rushen Heritage Trust, contact the charity’s coordinator John Quirk by emailing [email protected] or phoning 464634.